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Monthly Archives: November 2009
Should Intermarried Families Celebrate Christmas?
Messianic Judaism brings together many intermarried families with many different backgrounds and stories. In December, there is an issue which touches the core of what it means to struggle with two heritages, two cultures, under one roof. Yesterday, in a … Continue reading
Posted in Holidays, Interfaith, Intermarried, messianic, Messianic Jewish, Messianic Judaism
Tagged Christmas, Hanukkah, Jewish
21 Comments
Off to Chicago-Land, Update on Things
Thanksgiving is here (obviously). I am still on a bit of a high from the SBL conference (see previous posts). I had a nice note from Michael Legaspi about yesterday’s post. I also got a bit of push-back on another … Continue reading
Posted in Holidays, messianic, Messianic Jewish, Messianic Judaism
5 Comments
What is Historical Criticism?
On Saturday there was a fascinating session of papers at SBL (Society of Biblical Literature) called “What is Historical Criticism?” The presenters were from Jewish and Christian backgrounds: Alan Cooper of Jewish Theological Seminary, Peter Machinist of Harvard, Francis Watson … Continue reading
Paul, N.T. Wright, and What About MJ’s?
I am at the Society of Biblical Literature conference in New Orleans with about 8,000 scholars and students of Bible, theology, archaeology, and so on. Last night, I asked N.T. Wright a question in front of 1,000 scholars. For those … Continue reading
Posted in Bible, N.T. Wright, Paul
23 Comments
On My Way to SBL
That’s Society of Biblical Literature. The annual meeting is in New Orleans. This is my first SBL. I think I am heading back into Hebrew Bible studies (my masters in 1998 from Emory was in this field) and with a … Continue reading
Posted in Bible
2 Comments
PODCAST: Yeshua in Context – Kingdom of Heaven, Pt 5
In his book Surprised by Hope, British scholar N.T. Wright mentions an interesting misunderstanding about the meaning of Yeshua’s resurrection. It is an objection, really, made by some scholars to the popular understanding of this age, the Age to Come, … Continue reading
Posted in Bible, Life to Come, messianic, Messianic Jewish, Messianic Judaism, Yeshua
Tagged Kingdom, Podcast, Yeshua in Context
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Why Study Theology?
A friend from the blogosphere emailed yesterday to ask a very personal question: “Why should anyone study theology?” For my friend this is a personal question because she already has the bug. She loves reading and studying and writing. But … Continue reading
Ezekiel 1:1-3, Under God’s Coercion
I’m only started on the road of studying the prophet Ezekiel, a book which will likely be my area of concentration in Hebrew Bible studies (some possible doctoral work in a few years). With a little preparatory reading under my … Continue reading
Posted in Bible, messianic, Messianic Jewish, Messianic Judaism
Tagged Abraham Joshua Heschel, Ezekiel
1 Comment
Zondervan Illustrated Bible Backgrounds Commentary
What sort of Bible reference materials do you have in your home? As with many rabbis and pastors, I am a shameless collector of books on Biblical studies and theology. Many of the books in my library are more for … Continue reading
Posted in Bible, Book Reviews, messianic, Messianic Jewish, Messianic Judaism
Tagged John Walton
12 Comments
Searching for Rebekah
Ah, the Rebekah story. Abraham has his servant put his hand under his thigh and swear (it wasn’t his thigh that the servant was to take hold of — get it?). Rashi has an interesting note about that if you … Continue reading
Posted in Bible, Christian, Faith, Interfaith, Intermarried, Judaism, messianic, Messianic Jewish, Messianic Judaism
Tagged Genesis, Rebekah
6 Comments
PODCAST: Yeshua in Context – Kingdom of Heaven, Pt 4
One thing about Yeshua in his context, and it is still true two thousand years later in our own, is that he challenges conventional thinking. He makes the comfortable uncomfortable and encourages the uneasy and overlooked people. He disavows greatness … Continue reading
Posted in Bible, messianic, Messianic Jewish, Messianic Judaism, Yeshua
Tagged Kingdom, Kingdom of Heaven, Podcast, Yeshua in Context
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Guest Blog in English, French, and German by Tiqun
Some time back I discovered and befriended a Messianic Jewish blogger from Switzerland, a mother of young children and a good and thoughtful writer to boot. I immediately recognized that her work is important not least because I am sure … Continue reading
Posted in Bible, Judaism, messianic, Messianic Jewish, Messianic Judaism
Tagged French, German, Guest Blog, Tiqun
1 Comment
Love Actually . . .
People have told me a dozen time at least that I should watch the 2003 movie “Love Actually.” Last night I did. Only once in a while a movie doesn’t just entertain you but rather knocks you over. (Beware if … Continue reading
Posted in Bible, Love, messianic, Messianic Jewish, Messianic Judaism, Yeshua
Tagged Colin Firth, Love Actually
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Is a History of Ancient Israel Possible? Pt 1
Is it possible to speak of the ancient history of Israel? I frequently encourage my congregation not to watch television documentaries about the Bible and history. Their mission is entertainment and controversy, not education. But through internet, television, and other … Continue reading
Subversive Sequels, Chapter 1
Disclosure statement: I did not receive any compensation from JPS for this review, but I did get a nice free book! Note: I’m told the FCC has a new rule requiring bloggers to disclose any compensation when offering a review … Continue reading
Posted in Bible, messianic, Messianic Jewish, Messianic Judaism
Tagged JPS, Judy Klitsner, Subversive Sequels
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PODCAST: Yeshua in Context – Kingdom of Heaven, Pt 3
In part 1, we considered one of the largest associations Yeshua’s hearers would have had with the phrase “kingdom of heaven” or “kingdom of God.” That is the return of a kingship like David’s, a golden age for Israel under … Continue reading
Posted in Bible, Life to Come, messianic, Messianic Jewish, Messianic Judaism, Yeshua
Tagged Kingdom of God, Kingdom of Heaven, Podcast, Yeshua in Context
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Recent Books on Biblical Interpretation
I’ve read a number of interesting books about how to interpret the Bible recently. Most recently I spent an intense few weeks in Kenton Sparks’ God’s Word in Human Words. I have a review which will appear in the May … Continue reading
Posted in Bible, Book Reviews, messianic, Messianic Jewish, Messianic Judaism
Tagged Blue Parakeet, JPS, Judy Klitsner, Kenton Sparks, Scot McKnight, Subversive Sequels
1 Comment
Israel and Messiah’s Return
I have been having dialogue with a number of people who feel that Israel’s part in God’s healing of the world is done. Messiah came from Israel and since that time, Israel’s part is finished. Israel to some is the … Continue reading
Un-Ordinary Beliefs
I get a regular stream of emails with questions about something someone read on Messianic Jewish Musings. Sometimes these come from regular readers and sometimes from people who ran across something on a google search. The questioners often are surprised … Continue reading
Posted in Bible, Mark Kinzer, messianic, Messianic Jewish, Messianic Judaism, Theology
7 Comments
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